What phenomenon occurs when a tube springs back after being bent?

The phenomenon that occurs when a tube springs back after being bent is referred to as springback. This occurs because the material of the tube exhibits elastic properties, allowing it to return to its original shape once the bending force is removed, but with some limitations.

In the context of material science and engineering, springback is significant when designing components, as it can affect the final dimensions and tolerances of the part after bending processes. Understanding this behavior is essential for ensuring that the bent tube maintains the desired shape and functionality in its application.

Elastic deformation is the initial phase that allows a material to return to its original shape, but springback specifically refers to the observable return of the shape after full unloading. While plastic deformation involves a permanent change in shape after the yield point is reached, springback is associated with temporarily induced stresses that do not exceed the elastic limit of the material. Yielding describes the point where a material deforms plastically, which is not applicable in this case since springback indicates recovery to some degree of elasticity.